LG Electronics has unveiled the latest addition to its mobile phone portfolio in the GCC. Meeting increasing local demand for handsets that deliver maximum fun, functionality and value for money, the G7050 brings the number of new mobile phone products launched by LG in the Middle East and Africa in the last year to 11. The new phone features a slide-down cover, 65,000-color LCD screen, 40 polyphonic ring tones, voice dialing, MMS, and talking keypads. The phone carries GPRS technology for faster web access. It also packs a powerful times-four digital zoom camera with a multi-shot function that can take nine shots with just one push of a button. “This higher-end mobile phone strengthens LG’s already impressive handset portfolio in the region and consolidates the company’s position as a global mobile phone player,” said P.C. Choi, president of LG Electronics Gulf FZE. “JAVA and MMS enabled, the G7050 is feature-rich and will help meet growing demand in the region. It offers many advantages, including data connectivity - using infrared interface and PC synchronization capabilities — voice dialing and voice recording, and a built-in answering machine. The talking key pad function, available in English and Arabic, is also a great new touch,” Choi added. LG Electronics has surged ahead in worldwide mobile phone sales in recent months and is now number five in the global rankings, according to independent market research. Less than three years ago, it was number 10 for sales of CDMA and GSM handsets, he said.

Al-Rasheed Greenhouses

Al-Rasheed Greenhouses Group, a Riyadh-based establishment dealing in agricultural products, has introduced an insect biological control program, following a two-year experiment in collaboration with an international specialist firm, according Group General Manager Mohammed Abdullah Al-Rasheed. He said the production capacity of the group reached 13,000 tons in 2003, covering a full range of high quality and chemical-free vegetables. The group’s share of greenhouses represents 50 percent in the local market and it expects its production to increase by 10 to 15 percent in 2004. This is due an increase in the number of greenhouses to 126 covering 63,000 sqm spread over eight locations where 450 workers carry out different agricultural tasks. Additionally, 60 percent of the group’s production is sold to private, government and health sectors, and the rest is made available to the local market. Al-Rasheed said the agricultural sector has made great strides both in terms of quality and quantity, and with modern technologies introduced in the agriculture sector it could occupy second position after oil. “The agriculture sector is marking a growth of 11 percent annually. Its GDP contribution was 10 percent, amounting to about SR36 billion last year. The introduction of new greenhouse technologies is a giant step for the Al-Rasheed group, as it has all along depended on natural means to produce vegetables in a bid to avoid chemicals in combating agriculture insects,” he added.

TAIB Bank

The Bahrain-based TAIB Bank EC (TAIB) has entered into a memorandum of understanding with IL&FS Investment Managers Ltd. (IIML), a private equity fund management company listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange, to be a cosponsor and lead foreign investor in The Leverage Indian Fund. The fund, which will be dedicated to late-stage private equity financing in Indian companies across several industries, has been jointly sponsored by Punjab National Bank, a leading Indian bank, and Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services Ltd. (IL&FS), an Indian financial institution. The fund will have a multisectoral investment approach and proposes to make 15-20 investments in equity and equity-related instruments of Indian companies having strong profitability trends, a stable and consistent cash flow history and requiring funding for expansion. The fund investments will essentially cover sectors in which Indian companies have a global competitive advantage like manufacturing, engineering and life sciences, as well as infrastructure. Announcing this in Bahrain yesterday, Iqbal G. Mamdani, vice chairman and CEO of the Bank, said: “We believe in India and the potential rewards and the promise that carefully selected and managed private equity transactions hold for our investor-clients and ourselves in that country. Our forging an alliance with IIML is the right step in this direction.” IIML is happy to work in collaboration with TAIB Bank in respect of the fund, Ravi Parthasarathy, vice chairman and MD of IL&FS, said. “TAIB has a rich experience in raising various funds in the GCC and in other international markets, and we’re delighted that they are focusing on India.”

Philips Lighting

Philips Lighting in conjunction with illumination specialist Pierre Bideau recently completed work on one of the world’s most prestigious lighting projects - the replacement of the 352 illuminating projectors that shine on the Eiffel Tower or La Dame de Fer in Paris. The work was ordered by the French management company in charge of the Eiffel Tower tourist attraction and required three months work and resulted in a 30 percent energy saving. The work was organized so that not a single tourist or Parisian noticed a thing - “the Iron Lady stayed in her usual brilliance all night every night,” Philips CEO Robert van de Riet said. “Philips has a clear mission - to make life better for today’s and tomorrow’s generations by developing innovative solutions that are sustainable and attractive with reduction in energy consumption. With Philips Lighting, we provide ultraviolet lights for disinfection in hospitals, infrared lights for industrial production applications, “illuminated urban design” for improving nighttime environments through the lighting of monuments and cities and for street safety.” The performance of the Master SON-T PIA Plus 400-600 watt range of bulbs made by Philips is certainly earning its “green flagship” label. These bulbs use sodium high-pressure lamps that provide higher light intensity at the same level of power. This equates to a 40 percent saving per lamp. In addition to efficiency, the project required that the level of light remains exactly the same while also reducing the weight of each projection unit.

Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola was awarded for its participation in the paper and can collection (PCC) campaign at a ceremony conducted by the Emirates Environmental Group (EEG) in Dubai recently. As one of the founders of the EEG, a reputable non-governmental organization accredited by the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, Coca-Cola is a strong supporter of the PCC campaign. The campaign focuses on implementing recycling programs and reminding the general pubic of the importance of recycling and the vital role it plays to preserve the environment. Coca-Cola joined in the campaign to increase public awareness of the program and support the EEG’s initiative to encourage the population in the UAE to “reduce, reuse and recycle.” Gurtay Kipcak, Coca-Cola public affairs and communications director, Eurasia & Middle East division, said: “We’re very proud of this award. Coca-Cola recognizes the importance of acting environmentally and setting an example to promote environment-friendly practices within multinational corporations, both locally and internationally.” The EEG organizes the PCC campaign among other projects to improve the environment annually.

Nescafe

It is the dream of millions of fans to meet their favorite Star Academy student and to talk to them in person. Nescafe, sole sponsor of Star Academy, made the dream a reality when it invited 10 winners from the Arab world to Lebanon to meet their favorite Star Academy student, watch the glamour of Star Academy’s final show and attend the last rehearsal of the students as they train for their final show. The “Nescafe experience” was a stimulating nonstop adventure of a lifetime. The experience started when Nescafe announced a promotion that gave consumers a chance to win when purchasing a cup of Nescafe at different universities and colleges or simply through voting to save their favorite Star Academy student via SMS. “Tens of thousands of consumers participated to win the Nescafe experience,” said a top Nescafe executive. “Our aim was to offer our consumers a stimulating Nescafe experience, which included meeting their favorite Star Academy student, touring Lebanon and simply having fun.” It was a beautiful springtime of the year in Lebanon, which allowed the Nescafe experience to host many outdoor activities for 10 winners — Abdul Latif Mahmoud Abdul Rahman of Saudi Arabia, Hala Bargout and Myrna Helou of Lebanon, Yara Hani Jamil of Jordan, Naser Abdul Latif Ibrahim of the UAE, Suoud Abdul Aziz and Khaled Mohammed Khaled of Kuwait, Ahmed Hamdan Humaid of Oman, Chantal Chelhoub of Syria and Ali Hassan Abbas of Bahrain. Nestle also hosted events in Kuwait, the UAE and Oman where huge screens were erected for fans to watch the final episode of Star Academy live.